News

Alberta-based broker network Western Financial Group says it has filed a prospectus with Canadian securities regulators to offer subscription receipts. The offering would apply to all provinces.The receipts will entitle holders to purchase one common share of Western stock (TSX:…

The flurry of initial public offering activity amongst non-standard auto insurance carriers show just how far this sector has rebounded following disastrous results from 1999-2001, notes a new report by A.M. Best.In a special “Then and Now” report on non-standard…

The U.S. homeowners’ insurance market has turned the corner after two decades of poor results, according to a new report by Conning Research. Conning says homeowners carriers have hit “the sweet spot” and “reversed the curse”, a trend likely to…

The November Consumer Price Index published by Statistics Canada finds auto insurance prices have gone down to a significant degree in total, premiums have dropped by 1.6% since last November alone, to have a “dampening” effect on the CPI. Unfortunately,…

In light of the investigations spurred by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer into broker compensation practices, and the resulting decision by most large brokers to discontinue receiving contingent commissions, the “million dollar question” is how this revenue will be…

The unprecedented natural catastrophe losses suffered by insurers in 2004 have caught the attention of the United Nations. At a conference on climate change last week, the UN said more needs to be done to “avert a veritable biblical list…

The Florida legislature decided on Friday to support a plan reimbursing policyholders who paid multiple deductibles on claims filed as a result of this year’s four major hurricanes.In the aftermath of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Jeanne and Ivan, which struck the…

Crawford Adjusters Canada has named John Sharoun as COO, to lead all operating units of the firm and working with CEO Glenn Gibson on a new three-year strategy for the company. Sharoun has more than 30 years industry experience, starting…

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says its members remain concerned over the issue of insurance pricing. In its quarterly survey of 100,000 small business owners, the CFIB finds 72% saying insurance prices have had a negative impact on…

In its yearend sigma study of annual catastrophe losses, Swiss Re says 2004 should produce about US$42 billion in insured losses. More significantly, more than 21,000 lives were lost to catastrophes both man-made and natural this year, the report notes.Overall…

Following the release of a survey indicating the increasing desire to purchase terrorism coverage under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), broker Aon is adding its voice to the call for an extension of the U.S. government program.Aon says the…

Lloyd’s of London says its capacity should be GBP 13.7 billion (Cdn$33 billion) in 2005, a 9% drop over the nearly GBP 15 billion pounds (Cdn$36 billion) of capacity this year.Lloyd’s chairman Lord Peter Levene says the drop in capacity…